Foot dimmer switch



United States Patent O 3,502,833 FOOT DIMMER SWITCH Ralph Rossini, St. Clair Shores, and Dragan Bogovican, Detroit, Mich., assignors to Essex International, Inc., a corporation of Michigan Filed Apr. 9, 1968, Ser. No. 719,987

Int. Cl. H01h 3/14 U.S. Cl. 200-86.5 11 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A foot dimmer switch includes a housing which carries a rocker mounted upon a pintle integrally formed in the housing. A contact member is carried upon the rocker and selectively engages different ones of a plurality of contacts when the rocker is pivoted into a first or a second position, respectively. The rocker includes a pair of notches which are adapted to be engaged by an actuating pin to move the rocker between the positions. The actuating pin is normally spring urged out of engagement with the notches, the spring Ibeing overcome by the foot of the operator. A pivot rib is disposed vertically beneath the pintle and also provides a fulcrum about which the rocker pivots, preventing the inoperabilty of the switch in the event of breakage of the pintle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a foot dimmer switch and, more particularly, to a new and improved foot dimmer switch for use in the headlight circuit of a vehicle.

In the past foot dimmer switches have been provided in the headlight circuitry of a vehicle to switch the headlights between high and low beams. The prior switches are usually of the two position variety and generally include a rocker which pivots ybetwen the two switch positions. The rocker is normally pivoted about a pin or other pivot member within the housing of the switch, the pivoting being accomplished by engaging the rocker with a pin or plunger responsive to foot pressure of the operator of the vehicle. These prior switches are normally in either a first or second switch position and are movable by the pin or plunger from one position to the other and the rocker carries a contact memberwhich is in electrical contact with one set of contacts when the rocker is in its first position and another set of contacts when the rocker is in its second position to establish the appropriate electrical circuit between the high and low beams of the headlights, respectively.

Frequently, due to the repeated and rough use which accompanies the operation of such dimmer switches, the pivot pin about which the rocker pivots is broken. When the pivot pin breaks, a dangerous condition results because the rocker and its contact member drop out of engagement with the contacts causing complete failure of the headlight system. Not only are the low beam headlights rendered inoperative, but also the high beam headlights become inoperative upon such failure of the switch. Thus, the vehicle is for all practical purposes,v inoperable itself at night unless proper service facilities may be secured immediately to replace the foot dimmer switch. More usual than not, such facilities are unobtainable within the geographical area in which the failure occurs during the late night hours in which the headlights of the vehicle are a necessity.

A switch constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention obviates this dangerous condition in that such switch not only avoids complete failure of the headlights but remains operative to selectively operate either the high or the low beams of the vehicle headlights as before in the event of failure of the rocker pivot pin. Thus,

Patented Mar. 24, 1970 ICC a switch constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention is fail safe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The switch constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention includes a housing having a pintle therein and a rocker pivotally mounted on the pintle. A contact member is carried by the rocker and is adapted to establish an electrical circuit between some of a plurality of contact surfaces adjacent the contact plate when the rocker is disposed in a first position and to establish another electrical circuit between different ones of the plurality of contact surfaces when the rocker is disposed in a second position. A raised rib is provided beneath the pintle and integral with the housing to provide a fulcrum about which the rocker pivots when the rocker is moving between its first and second positions in the event of failure of the pintle. Actuating means is provided to contact the rocker in response to foot pressure on the dimmer switch to pivot the rocker about both its pintle and the fulcrum provided by the rib between said positions. In the event of breakage of the pintle, the rib continues to support the rocker in a pivotal disposition, thus rendering the switch fail safe.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood through a consideration of the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the course of this description, reference will fre quently be made to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of foot dimmer switch of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation view taken along lines 2f--2 0f FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the contact plate taken along lines 3 3 of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the foot dimmer switch wherein the rocker is disposed in a first position;

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the foot dimmer switch during movement of the rocker from the first position toward a second position; and

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the foot dimmer switch wherein the rocker is disposed in the second position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of a foot dimmer switch constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention, is `shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The switch includes a housing 8 having a generally rectangular bottom portion 10 and a cylindrical upper portion 12. Suitable flanges 14 extend from the base of the housing and carry openings 16 adapting the switch housing to be affixed to the floor of the vehicle. The top of the cylindrical portion 12 of the housing is closed by a cap 18 which is movable `axially with respect to the cylindrical portion 12. The cylindrical y portion 12 includes a pair of spaced grooves 20, one on each side of the cylindrical portion, and the cap 18 includes a pair of tabs 22 bent in'wardly which are adapted to ride in the grooves 20. Each of the tabs 22 engage a shoulder 24 at the upper end of the grooves 20, preventing the movement of the cap 18 beyond the end of the cylindrical portion 12. A cup-shaped housing 26 extends from the end portion of the cap 18 into the inside of the cylindrical portion 12 of the housing, the cylindrical portion being tubular as best shown in FIG. 2. The closed end 28 of the cup-shaped housing includes an opening 30 and a tapered actuating pin 32 is inserted through Vthe opening 30 and extends toward the rectangular portion 10 of the housing through the tubular cylindrical portion 12. A shoulder 34 on the head of the pin 32 prevents passage of the pin entirely through the opening 30 and a spring 36 is provided between the end of the cap 18 and a shoulder 34 urging the pin 32 toward the rectangular portion 10 of the housing. A partition 38 separates the cylindrical portion 12 of the housing from the rectangular portion 10. A rectangular slot 40 is located in the partition, the end of the pin 32 being arranged to pass therethrough as will be described in more detail later. A spring 42 is disposed between the partition 38 and the end of the cap 18 urging the cap and its attached cupshaped housing 26 and pin 32 away from the rectangular portion of the housing.

The rectangular portion 10 of the housing 8 includes a pintle 44 formed integrally in one piece construction with a wall 46 of the housing. The pintle 44 extends from the aforementioned wall 46 toward an open face 48 of the rectangular portion 10 of the housing. A rocker 50 is provided, having a pair of V-shaped notches 52 and 54 in its upper surface and a passage 56 therethrough in generally parallel relationship with the notches 52 and 54. The rocker 50 is inserted through the open face 48 of the housing and the pintle 44 extends into its passage 56. A pair of shoulders 58 are provided at each end of the rocker 50 and a U-shaped contact member 60 is carried by the rocker. The contact member 60 includes a pair of contact surfaces 62 and 64 and a pair of arms 66 which extend generally perpendicular to the contact surfaces; the arms being of increased |width at their ends 68. The passage 56 is of increased diameter at 70 and accommodatesl a spring 72 which is inserted into the increased diameter portion 70 of the passage. The contact member 60 is then assembled over the spring 72 and onto the rocker 50. The spring 72 urges the contact member 60 away from the rocker 50 but the contact members movement is restrained by the engagement of the increased width ends 68 with the shoulders 58.

Finally a contact plate 74 is inserted in the open face 48 of the housing closing the housing. As best seen in FIG. 3, the contact plate 74 carries four contact surfaces 76, 77, 78 and 79 on its internal face, each of the contact surfaces being spaced by an amount such that they will be engaged by the corresponding contact surfaces 62 and 64 on the contact member 60. Contact surfaces 76 and 77 are electrically connected to terminals 80 and 82, respectively, which extend outwardly of the plate. These terminals are adapted to each be connected to the high and low beams of the headlights. Contact surfaces 78 and 79 are electrically connected to a bus 84 which, in turn, is connected to a terminal 86 lwhich is adapted to be connected to ground for completion of the headlight circuit.

A raised pivot rib 88 is formed integrally within the rectangular portion 10 of the housing and is in vertical alignment and below the pintle 44. The pivot rib 88 is raised by a suliicient amount so it engages the lower surface of the rocker 50 and acts as a fulcrum about which the rocker may pivot. A lpair o-f secondary ribs 90 may be provided if desired. Either the pivot rib 88 or the se'ondary ribs 90 may provide stop means to limit the extent of pivot of the rocker 50 in each of its two positions. In the event of breakage of the pintle 44, the secondary ribs 90 also act to prevent lateral movement of the rocker by such amount that the contact surfaces 62 and 64 would be no longer aligned with the contact surfaces on plate 74. Lateral movement of the rocker 50 is prevented under those circumstances by contact of the secondary ribs 90 with the crests 92 formed by the intersecting faces of the rocker.

In operation, the rocker 50 is pivoted to either a first or a second angled position about the pintle 44 and, if the pintle fails, about the pivot rib 88. In the first position, shown in FIG. 4, the rocker 50 is rotated to its extreme counterclockwise position and the contact surfaces 62 and 64 engage contact surfaces 77 and 78 due to the pressure of spring 72. In this position an electrical circuit is completed through terminal 82, contact surface 77, contact surface 62, contact member 60, contact surface 64, contact surface 78, bus 84, and terminal 86 to ground. Terminal 82 may be connected, for example, to the high beam headlights and terminal 80 may be connected to the low beam headlights. Thus, in the first position just described, the high beam headlights would be energized. When it is desired to shift from high beams to low beams, the operator exerts foot pressure upon cap 18 overcoming the spring pressure produced by spring 42, moving the cap 18 and its associated actuating pin 32 toward the rectangular portion 10 of the housing. As shown in FIG. 5, the pin 32, as shown iby the dotted lines, passes through slot 40 and engages the inclined surbottom of the notch. Continued movement of the pin 32 pivots the rocker 50 about the pintle 44 andthe pivot rib 88, rotating the rocker in a clockwise direction to its second angular position, as shown in FIG. 6. In this second position, an electrical circuit is now established between the terminal 80, contact surface 76, contact surface 64, contact member 60, contact surface 62, co-ntact surface 79, bus 84 and terminal l86 to ground, de-energizing the high beams and energizing the low beams.

In the event that pintle 44 breaks, total failure of the headlight circuit is prevented by the pivot rib 88. When such condition occurs, the rocker 50 merely continues to pivot about the fulcrum provided by the pivot rib 88. Thus, the total failure of the headlights is avoided and the dimmer switch is rendered fail safe. The secondary ribs restrain lateral movement of the rocker 50 to maintain the contact surfaces 62 and 64 of the contact member 60 in alignment with the contact surfaces on the contact plate 74 at all times.

It should be understood that the embodiment of the present invention which has been described is merely illustrative of an application of the principles of the invention. Numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A dimmer switch comprising:

a housing having a first pintle pivot means mounted therein,

a rocker pivotally mounted on said first pintle pivot means,

a contact member carried by said rocker,

a contact plate adjacent said contact member and carrying a plurality of electrical contacts,

said rocker being normally mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of said first pintle pivot means to a first position and to a second position wherein said contact member establishes an electrical circuit between different ones of said electrical contacts in each of said positions,

second pivot means, said rocker pivoting about said second pivot means to said first and second positions in the event said first pintle :pivot means breaks, and

actuating means for pivoting said rocker about either of said pivot means between said-positions.

2. The switch of claim 1 wherein said first pintle pivot means and said housing are of one piece construction.

3. The switch of claim 1 wherein said second pivot means is a rib raised from said housing in substantial vertical alignment with said first pintle pivot means, said rib providing a fulcrum about which the `rocker pivots in the event said pintle breaks.

4. The switch of claim 3 wherein said rib is arranged to provide a stop to limit the pivot of said rocker in said first and second positions.

5. The switch of claim 1 including urging means to urge said contact member into engagement with said electrical contacts and maintain said rocker arm in said first and second positions.

6. The switch of claim 5 wherein said urging means is a spring.

`7. The switch of claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes a pair of notches on a side of said rocker opposite said second pivot means, and force exerting means arranged to move into and exert a force upon one of said notches to pivot said rocker from said rst position to said second position and to move into and exert a force upon the other of said notches to pivot said rocker from said second position to said first position.

8. The switch of claim 7 wherein said force exerting means includes apin which is movable into and out of engagement with said notches.

9. The switch of claim 8 including spring means normally urging said pin out of said notches, and means for overcoming said spring means to move said pin into said notches.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,285,916 6/1942 Eisner. 2,994,750 8/ 1961 Raab 200-68 HERMAN O. JONES, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 200-153 

